Spring is just around the corner up here in the northern climes. Oh yes, I know that there is snow up to your chest and that shiver with dread as you think about going outside into the deep cold. However, it’s at this time of year that I start to think about spring. It’s best to plan ahead.
We’ll start with a garden survey. You can begin the survey indoors, and as the snow begins to melt you can head outdoors to complete it.
Visualize your garden. If you have a vegetable garden already, use a piece of paper and a pencil to sketch out where this garden is located in your yard. If you do not have a vegetable garden but you would like to have one, then you will need to sketch out your entire garden. Don’t worry about the artistic content of your drawing – it’s just a sketch to help you plan, not a masterpiece.
Draw the area of your vegetable garden. Don’t draw any vegetables in it just yet. Then draw the area around the garden. Look for:
Shade trees, houses, playhouses and anything else that casts shade on the garden. Note what time of day these usually cast shade during the growing season.
Temperature. What is the hottest part of your garden? What is the coldest part of your garden?
Drainage and slope. Where are the wet parts of your garden? What parts are dry?
Soil and roots. Are there areas that are hard to dig because they are under a large tree? Are there areas that are particularly boggy or well-drained?
Wind and weather patterns. Think back to past garden seasons. Is there a windy area of the garden? Are particular areas more sheltered from the rain and snow?
Human, pet and other animal movements. Where do people and animals walk? Are there any areas that are particularly browsed by deer or used by other animals?
With this information, you’ll be able to better locate plants and choose plants for an existing vegetable garden. If you don’t have a vegetable garden yet, this information can help you decide where to locate it.
As you pore through seed catalogs and nurseries in early spring, remember your garden layout. Use this information to make a plan – think about what plants really thrive in your garden’s conditions.